Optical fiber connector

ABSTRACT

An optical fiber connector includes a fixing module and an optical fiber ferrule positioned at an end of the fixing module. The optical fiber connector is used for gripping a cable including an optical fiber. The optical fiber ferrule axially defines a through hole. The optical fiber is gripped in the fixing module and is partly protruded out of the optical ferrule. When the optical fiber connector is assembled to an adapter to join with another optical fiber connector, the optical fiber is bent to elastically resist an optical fiber of the another optical fiber connector.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims all benefits accruing under 35 U.S.C. §119 fromChina Patent Application No. 201210100978.6, filed on Apr. 9, 2012, inthe China Intellectual Property Office, the disclosure of which isincorporated herein by reference. The application is also related toco-pending applications entitled, “OPTICAL FIBER CONNECTOR ANDASSEMBLING DEVICE FOR THE SAME” (Atty. Docket No. US45521); “FIBER ENDSURFACE MACHINING DEVICE AND FIBER POSITION STRUCTURE THEREOF” (Atty.Docket No. US45523); “FIBER MACHINING DEVICE AND ASSEMBLING METHOD FOROPTICAL FIBER CONNECTOR” (Atty. Docket No. US45524); “OPTICAL FIBERCONNECTOR” (Atty. Docket No. US45525); “OPTICAL FIBER CONNECTOR” (Atty.Docket No. US45528); “OPTICAL FIBER CLAMPING MECHANISM AND OPTICAL FIBERCONNECTOR USING THE SAME” (Atty. Docket No. US45529).

BACKGROUND

1. Technical Field

The present disclosure relates to connectors, particularly to an opticalfiber connector.

2. Description of the Related Art

Fiber To The Home (FTTH) is widely used in communications field, andmany optical fiber connectors are needed for connecting the opticalfiber. An optical fiber connector generally includes an optical ferrulewith an optical fiber stub already terminated in the optical ferrule, anoptical fiber holder, and a clamp sleeve sleeved on the optical fiberholder to fasten a field optical fiber. To improve the quality ofoptical coupling and minimize Fresnel losses of the optical fiberconnector, there are two manners of treating a joint between the opticalfiber stub and the field optical fiber. In a first manner, a matchingliquid is injected in the optical fiber holder. However, the matchingliquid evaporates easily. In a second manner, the optical fiber stub andthe field optical fiber are joined together by melting them together.However, it is not convenient to precisely join the optical fiber stuband the field optical fiber together.

Therefore, there is room for improvement within the art.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

The components in the drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale, theemphasis instead placed upon clearly illustrating the principles of thepresent disclosure. Moreover, in the drawings, like reference numeralsdesignate corresponding parts throughout the several views.

FIG. 1 is an isometric, assembled view of an embodiment of an opticalfiber connector.

FIG. 2 is an exploded, isometric view of the optical fiber connector ofFIG. 1 including a fixing module.

FIG. 3 is an exploded, isometric view of the fixing module of FIG. 2including a fastening member.

FIG. 4 is similar to FIG. 3, but viewed from another aspect.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged, isometric view of the fastening member of FIG. 3.

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the optical fiber connector of FIG.1 taken along the line VI-VI, showing the fixing module at an ungrippedstate.

FIG. 7 is similar to FIG. 6, but showing the fixing module at a grippedstate.

FIG. 8 is an enlarged view of a circled portion IX of FIG. 6.

FIG. 9 is an assembled, isometric view of the optical fiber connector ofFIG. 1 clamped by an assembly tool.

FIG. 10 is an isometric view of the fixing module of FIG. 2 clamped byan assembly tool.

FIG. 11 is similar to FIG. 8, but showing the optical fiber connectorreceived in an adapter.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIGS. 1 and 2 show an embodiment of an optical fiber connector 100 forgripping a cable 200. The optical fiber connector 100 includes a fixingmodule 10, an optical fiber ferrule 30, an elastic member 50, an innerhousing 60, an outer housing 70, and a boot 90. The optical fiberferrule 30 is positioned to one end of the fixing module 10. The elasticmember 50 is sleeved on the other end of the fixing module 10 away fromthe optical fiber ferrule 30. The inner housing 60 is sleeved on thefixing module 10. The outer housing 70 is sleeved on the inner housing60. The boot 90 is sleeved on an end of the inner housing 60 away fromthe outer housing 70. In the illustrated embodiment, the optical fiberconnector 100 is a Subscriber Connector (SC) optical fiber connector.The cable 200 includes an optical fiber 203 and a coating 205 formed onthe optical fiber 203. In order to facilitate the cable 200 beinggripped in the optical fiber connector 100, part of the coating 205 areremoved for exposing the optical fiber 203.

FIGS. 3 to 5 show an embodiment of a fixing module 10. The fixing module10 is a sleeve. The fixing module 10 includes a support member 11, afastening member 13 mating with the support member 11, and a lockingmember 15. The locking member 15 is sleeved on the support member 11 andthe fastening member 13 for gripping the optical fiber 203.

The support member 11 is substantially cylindrical. The support member11 includes a fixing portion 113, a first assembling portion 115, and asecond assembling portion 117. The first assembling portion 115 and thesecond assembling portion 117 extend outward from opposite ends of thefixing portion 113. The second assembling portion 117 forms a latchingportion 1173 protruding from the outer surface of the second assemblingportion 117 adjacent to an end of the second assembling portion 117 awayfrom the fixing portion 113.

In the illustrated embodiment, a cross section of the fixing portion 113is rectangular, and the fixing portion 113 defines a receiving portion1131 for receiving the fastening member 13. The fixing portion 113further defines a first restricting groove 1133 in the bottom of thereceiving portion 1131 extending in a direction substantially parallelto an optical axis of the optical fiber connector 100. The firstrestricting groove 1133 is a V-shaped groove. In other embodiments, thefirst restricting groove 1133 can also be an arc groove. The fixingportion 113 forms a pair of protrusions 1135 protruding from oppositesides of the fixing portion 113 adjacent to the first assembling portion115. The protrusions 1135 are located at opposite sides of the receivingportion 1131. The fixing portion 113 further forms a pair of stoppers1137 at an end of the fixing portion 113 adjacent to the secondassembling portion 117 for restricting the slide of the locking member15. The first assembling portion 115 axially defines an assembling hole1151 communicating with the first restricting groove 1133. The secondassembling portion 117 axially defines a receiving hole 1171communicating with the first restricting groove 1133. Both a diameter ofthe assembling hole 1151 and a diameter of the receiving hole 1171 arelarger than a width of the first restricting groove 1133.

The fastening member 13 is received in the receiving portion 1131 of thesupport member 11, and mates with the support member 11 to fasten theoptical fiber 203 of the cable 200. The fastening member 13 includes afirst resisting portion 130 and a second resisting portion 131slantingly connected with the first resisting portion 130. The secondresisting portion 131 includes a second resisting surface 1313 facingthe bottom of the receiving portion 1131 and adjacent to the stoppers1137. The first resisting portion 130 includes a first resisting surface1301 facing the bottom of the receiving portion 1131 and connecting withthe second resisting surface 1313. When the locking member 15 slidesalong the fixing portion 113, the first resisting surface 1301 and thesecond resisting surface 1313 resists the bottom of the receivingportion 1131 in turn. The first resisting surface 1301 defines a secondrestricting groove 1351 corresponding to the first restricting groove1133. The second resisting surface 1313 defines a guiding groove 1353communicating with the second restricting groove 1351 for facilitatingthe insertion of the optical fiber 203 into the fixing module 10. Thebottom of the guiding groove 1353 is a slanted surface, the guidinggroove 1353 is deeper than the second restricting groove 1351, and thedepth of the guiding groove 1353 gradually increases from the endadjacent to the second restricting groove 1351 to the other end. In theillustrated embodiment, the first resisting surface 1301 and the secondresisting surface 1313 are both flat surfaces intersecting at anadjoining line 137. In alternative embodiments, an arc surface islocated between the first resisting surface 1301 and the secondresisting surface 1313.

In an alternative embodiment, the second resisting surface 1313 can beomitted, and the optical fiber 203 fixed in the fixing module 10 bymeans of the first resisting surface 1301 resisting the optical fiber203.

In an alternative embodiment, the guiding groove 1353 is formed at anend of the receiving portion 1131 adjacent to the second resistingsurface 1313.

Referring to FIGS. 3 and 4 again, the locking member 15 is substantiallya sleeve. The locking member 15 axially defines a through hole 151mating with a cross section of the fixing portion 113 of the supportmember 11. The locking member 15 forms two pairs of gripping portions153 at outer surfaces of the locking member 15. One pair of the grippingportions 153 define a pair of locking holes 1535 corresponding to thepair of protrusions 1135. A slanted surface 1513 is formed at an innersurface of the locking member 15 adjacent to an end of the lockingmember 15, the slanted surface 1513 is formed between the pair oflocking holes 1535, and a diameter of the through hole 151 adjacent tothe second assembling portion 117 is larger than a diameter of thethrough hole 151 away from the second assembling portion 117.

Also referring to FIG. 6, the optical fiber ferrule 30 is substantiallycylindrical, and is made of ceramic materials. The optical fiber ferrule30 axially defines a through hole 331 for receiving the optical fiber203. The optical fiber ferrule 30 further defines a guiding hole 332communicating with the through hole 331 in an end of the optical fiberferrule 30 for facilitating the insertion of the optical fiber 203 intothe through hole 331. In the illustrated embodiment, a diameter of thethrough hole 331 is a little larger than a diameter of the optical fiber203, to facilitate passing the optical fiber 203 through. The guidinghole 332 can be substantially funnel shaped with a smaller end of theguiding hole 332 communicating with the through hole 331, which canprevent the optical fiber 203 from breaking when being bent at a distalend of the through hole 331.

The elastic member 50 is a compression spring sleeved on the secondassembling portion 117 in the embodiment. The inner housing 60 defines apair of sliding grooves 65 in a sidewall thereof extending in adirection substantially parallel to the optical axis of the opticalfiber connector 100. The inner housing 60 has an external thread 67 atan end thereof. The inner housing 60 further forms a locking portion 615(as shown in FIG.7) at an inner surface thereof corresponding to thelatching portion 1173.

The outer housing 70 is shaped to facilitate to installation of theoptical fiber connector 100 into an SC adapter (not shown) in theembodiment. In alternative embodiments, the outer housing 70 can beshaped to facilitate the installation of the optical fiber connector 100to other types of adapters. The outer housing 70 defines a pair ofoperating grooves 75 communicating with the pair of sliding grooves 65of the inner housing 60. The boot 90 forms an internal thread 91corresponding to the external thread 67 of the inner housing 60. Theboot 90 fastens on an end of the inner housing 60 over the externalthread 67.

Referring to FIGS. 6 and 7, in assembly of the optical fiber connector100, the fastening member 13 is received in the receiving portion 1131of the support member 11. The locking member 15 is sleeved on an end ofthe support member 11 adjacent to the second assembling portion 117 (asseen in FIG. 6). The optical fiber ferrule 30 is fastened in theassembling hole 1151 of the fixing module 10. The elastic member 50 issleeved on the second assembling portion 117. The fixing module 10 isassembled in the inner housing 60 with the latching portion 1173engaging with the locking portion 615. One end of the elastic member 50resists the locking portion 615, and the other end of the elastic member50 resists a distal end of the fixing portion 113. The outer housing 70is sleeved on the inner housing 60 with the pair of operating grooves 75communicating with the pair of sliding grooves 65. Finally, the boot 90is fastened on a distal end of the inner housing 60 away from the outerhousing 70.

Referring to FIGS. 8 and 11, the optical fiber 203 includes an endsurface 2030. The optical fiber 203 may have a plurality of depressions,a plurality of cracks, a plurality of burrs, or a plurality of scratchesat the end surface 2030 of the optical fiber 203 which has been cut, andany of these defects will increase a light loss and affect theefficiency of a data transmission of the optical connector 100. Toincrease the efficiency of the data transmission of the opticalconnector 100, the end surface 2030 is treated by heating to form asmooth, rounded configuration. The end surface 2030 of the optical fiber203 includes a flat surface 2031 at a center thereof and a roundedshoulder 2033 surrounding the flat surface 2031.

In alternative embodiments, the configuration of the end surface 2030 ofthe optical fiber 203 can be an arc configuration, a sphericalconfiguration, or the like.

Referring to FIGS. 1 to 7, in use of the optical fiber connector 100,the boot 90 is taken off from the inner housing 60, and the opticalfiber 203 of the cable 200 is inserted into the fixing module 10 from adistal end of the boot 90 away from the outer housing 70. In an initialstate, the locking member 15 is located at an end of the fixing portion113 adjacent to the second assembling portion 117, the second resistingsurface 1313 resists against the bottom of the receiving portion 1131,and the first resisting surface 1301 is warped to form a gap (as seen inFIG. 6) between the first resisting surface 1301 and the bottom of thereceiving portion 1131. The optical fiber 203 is inserted into thefixing module 10, and a length of the optical fiber 203 protruding outof the optical fiber ferrule 30 is controlled to be in a range fromabout 2 μm to about 4 μm. In the illustrated embodiment, the length ofthe optical fiber 203 protruding out of the optical fiber ferrule 30 is3 μm.

In order to slide the locking member 15, an assembling tool 80, as shownin FIGS. 9 and 10, is needed. The assembling tool 80 is substantiallyU-shaped. The assembling tool 80 includes a base portion 81 and a pairof elastic arms 83 extending substantially perpendicularly from oppositeends of the base portion 81. Each of the pair of elastic arms 83includes a pair of elastic portions 831. In use, the pair of elasticarms 83 are passed through the pair of operating grooves 75 and the pairof sliding grooves 65 successively, and the elastic arms 83 latch withthe two pairs of gripping portions 153. An operator slides theassembling tool 80 along the pair of operating grooves 75 to slide thelocking member 15 towards an end of the fixing portion 113 adjacent tothe first assembling portion 115 until the pair of locking holes 1535engage with the pair of protrusions 1135. The first resisting surface1301 resists the bottom of the receiving portion 1131 to fix in placethe optical fiber 203 received in the first restricting groove 1133. Theboot 90 is fastened on a distal end of the inner housing 60 to fasten onand secure the outer coating 86 of the cable 200.

The pair of locking holes 1535 engaging with the pair of protrusions1135 prevent the locking member 15 from sliding. In an alternativeembodiment, the pair of locking holes 1535 and the pair of protrusions1135 can be omitted.

When the optical fiber 203 needs to be removed from the optical fiberconnector 100, the locking member 15 is slid via the assembling tool 80to its initial state and the boot 90 taken off. The assembling tool 80should be taken off the optical fiber connector 100 when the opticalfiber connector 100 is in a state of use, but the locking member 15cannot be slid along the fixing module 10 without the assembling tool80, which prevents the optical connector 100 from being knocked off byaccident, and ensures the optical fiber 203 is firmly fixed in thefixing module 10.

The end surface 2030 of the optical fiber 203 is smoothed by heating,which increases the contact area between the optical fiber 203 andanother optical fiber abutting the optical fiber 203. A length of theoptical fiber 203 protruding out of the optical fiber ferrule 30 iscontrolled to be in a range from about 2 μm to about 4 μm. When theoptical connector 100 is assembled on an adapter (not shown) to joinwith another optical fiber connector (not shown), the end surface 2030of the optical fiber 203 of the optical fiber connector 100 resists theend surface of the optical fiber of the other optical fiber connector,and a part of the optical fiber 203 received in the optical fiberferrule 30 is bent to form a curved structure 2035 (see in FIG. 11),which puts the two end surfaces in continuous contact with each other.In addition, the end surface 2030 of the optical fiber 203 will beenlarged after the end surface 2030 of the optical fiber 203 has beentreated, and the diameter of the end surface 2030 of the optical fiber203 is nearly the same as the diameter of the through hole 331.Resisting on the end surface of the optical fiber of the other opticalfiber connector, the end surface 2030 of the optical fiber 203 will befirmly received in the through hole 331 of the optical fiber ferrule 30.

The optical fiber 203 is passed through the optical fiber connector 100from a distal end of the boot 90 to a distal end of the optical fiberferrule 30 away from the boot 90, and the end surface 2030 of theoptical fiber 203 protrudes out of a distal end of the optical fiberferrule 30. The optical connector 100 is different from a fieldinstallable connector with an optical fiber stub already terminated inthe optical ferrule. The optical connector 100 avoids the need to joinsegments, which improves the quality of optical coupling and minimizesFresnel losses.

While the present disclosure has been described with reference toparticular embodiments, the description is illustrative of thedisclosure and is not to be construed as limiting the disclosure.Therefore, various modifications can be made to the embodiments by thoseof ordinary skill in the art without departing from the true spirit andscope of the disclosure, as defined by the appended claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. An optical fiber connector for gripping a cablecomprising an optical fiber, the optical fiber connector comprising: afixing module; and an optical fiber ferrule positioned at an end of thefixing module, wherein the optical fiber ferrule axially defines athrough hole, the optical fiber is gripped in the fixing module, movablyreceived in the through hole, and partly protruded out of the opticalferrule, when the optical fiber connector is assembled to an adapter tojoin with another optical fiber connector, the optical fiber is bent toelastically resist an optical fiber of the another optical fiberconnector.
 2. The optical fiber connector of claim 1, wherein a lengthof the optical fiber of the cable protruding out of the optical fiberferrule is controlled to be in a range from about 2 μm to about 4 μm. 3.The optical fiber connector of claim 1, wherein the length of theoptical fiber of the cable protruding out of the optical fiber ferruleis about 3 μm.
 4. The optical fiber connector of claim 1, wherein theoptical fiber of the cable comprises an end surface, and the end surfacecomprises a flat surface at a center thereof and a rounded shouldersurrounding the flat surface.
 5. The optical fiber connector of claim 1,wherein the optical ferrule further defines a guiding hole communicatingwith the through hole in an end thereof for facilitating the insertionof the optical fiber of the cable into the through hole.
 6. The opticalfiber connector of claim 1, wherein the fixing module comprises asupport member, a fastening member mating with the support member, and alocking member, and the locking member is sleeved on the support memberand the fastening member for gripping the optical fiber.
 7. The opticalfiber connector of claim 6, wherein the support member comprises afixing portion, and a first assembling portion and a second assemblingportion extending from opposite ends of the fixing portion, the fixingportion defines a receiving portion, the fastening member comprises afirst resisting portion and a second resisting portion slantinglyconnected with the first resisting portion, the first resisting portioncomprises a first resisting surface facing the bottom of the receivingportion, the second resisting portion comprises a second resistingsurface facing the bottom of the receiving portion, the fastening memberis received in the receiving portion, the locking member is sleeved onthe fixing portion, and the first resisting surface and the secondresisting surface resists the bottom of the receiving portion as thelocking member slides along the fixing portion.
 8. The optical fiberconnector of claim 7, wherein the fixing portion defines a firstrestricting groove in the bottom of the receiving portion extending in adirection substantially parallel to the optical axis of the opticalfiber connector, the first assembling portion axially defines anassembling hole communicating with the first restricting groove, thesecond assembling portion axially defines a receiving hole communicatingwith the first restricting groove, and both the diameter of theassembling hole and the diameter of the receiving hole are larger thanthe width of the restricting groove.
 9. The optical fiber connector ofclaim 8, wherein the first resisting surface defines a secondrestricting groove corresponding to the first restricting groove, thesecond resisting surface defines a guiding groove communicating with thesecond restricting groove, the bottom of the guiding groove is a slantedsurface, the guiding groove is deeper than the second restrictinggroove, and the depth of the guiding groove is gradually deeper from oneend thereof adjacent to the second restricting groove to the other endthereof away from the second restricting groove.
 10. The optical fiberconnector of claim 9, wherein the locking member axially defines athrough hole mating with the cross section of the fixing portion of thesupport member, and the locking member forms two pairs of grippingportions at the outer surface of the locking member.
 11. The opticalfiber connector of claim 10, wherein the fixing portion forms a pair ofprotrusions protruding out from opposite sides of the fixing portionadjacent to the first assembling portion, and one pair of the grippingportions define a pair of locking holes for engaging with the pair ofprotrusions.
 12. The optical fiber connector of claim 11, wherein thelocking member further comprises a slanted surface formed at an innersurface of the locking member adjacent to an end of the locking member,the slanted surface is located between the pair of locking holes, andthe diameter of the through hole adjacent to the second assemblingportion is larger than the diameter of the through hole away from thesecond assembling portion.
 13. The optical fiber connector of claim 6,wherein the second assembling portion forms a latching portionprotruding out from the outer surface of the second assembling portionaway from the fixing portion, the optical fiber connector furthercomprises an inner housing sleeved on the fixing module, and the innerhousing forms a locking portion at an inner surface thereof latchingwith the latching portion.
 14. The optical fiber connector of claim 13,wherein the inner housing defines a pair of sliding grooves in asidewall thereof extending in a direction substantially parallel to theoptical axis of the optical fiber connector.
 15. The optical fiberconnector of claim 14, further comprising an outer housing sleeved onthe inner housing, wherein the outer housing defines a pair of operatinggrooves communicating with the pair of sliding groove of the innerhousing.
 16. The optical fiber connector of claim 13, further comprisingan elastic member sleeved on the second assembling portion, wherein oneend of the elastic member resists the locking portion, and the other endof the elastic member resists a distal end of the fixing portion. 17.The optical fiber connector of claim 13, wherein the inner housing formsan external thread at an end thereof, the optical fiber connectorfurther comprises a boot, the boot forms an internal threadcorresponding to the external thread of the inner housing, and the bootis fastened on an end of the inner housing via the external threadmatching with the internal thread.